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The building up of new imbalances in China: the dilemma with ‘rebalancing’

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  • Helmut Wagner

    (University of Hagen)

Abstract

This paper offers a theoretical basis for the concept of rebalancing and applies it to China, where it is currently a topical issue. Rebalancing here means the correction of economic and social imbalances built up during industrialization. This correction is accompanied by a structural transformation towards a more inward- and consumption-driven growth path, associated with growth slowdown. Attempts to mitigate this growth slowdown by either retarding this structural reform process or by using expansionary stimulus programmes as done over the past decade in China create new imbalances that have to be corrected (rebalanced) again. Managing these multiple rebalancing tasks together is a tremendous undertaking, as this paper shows.

Suggested Citation

  • Helmut Wagner, 2017. "The building up of new imbalances in China: the dilemma with ‘rebalancing’," International Economics and Economic Policy, Springer, vol. 14(4), pages 701-722, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:iecepo:v:14:y:2017:i:4:d:10.1007_s10368-016-0360-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s10368-016-0360-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Glawe, Linda & Wagner, Helmut, 2020. "China in the middle-income trap?," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    2. Paul J. J. Welfens, 2020. "Trump’s Trade Policy, BREXIT, Corona Dynamics, EU Crisis and Declining Multilateralism," International Economics and Economic Policy, Springer, vol. 17(3), pages 563-634, July.
    3. Simola, Heli, 2019. "Evaluating international impacts of China-specific shocks in an input-output framework," BOFIT Discussion Papers 17/2019, Bank of Finland Institute for Emerging Economies (BOFIT).
    4. Murach, Michael & Wagner, Helmut & Kim, Jungsuk & Park, Donghyun, 2022. "Trajectories to high income: Comparing the growth dynamics in China, South Korea, and Japan with cointegrated VAR models," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 492-511.
    5. Wagner, Helmut, 2018. "Structural change, rebalancing, and the danger of a middle-income trap in China," BOFIT Policy Briefs 6/2018, Bank of Finland Institute for Emerging Economies (BOFIT).
    6. Alraqeb Zeynep & Knaack Peter & Macaire Camille, 2022. "Does FinTech Promote Entrepreneurship? Evidence from China [L’adoption des Fintech favorise-t-elle l’entreprenariat ? Le cas de la Chine]," Working papers 895, Banque de France.
    7. Murach, Michael & Wagner, Helmut & Kim, Jungsuk & Park, Donghyun, 2020. "Trajectories to high income: comparing the growth dynamics in China, Korea, and Japan with cointegrated VAR models," CEAMeS Discussion Paper Series 16/2020, University of Hagen, Center for East Asia Macro-economic Studies (CEAMeS).
    8. repec:zbw:bofitp:2019_017 is not listed on IDEAS
    9. Simola, Heli, 2019. "Evaluating international impacts of China-specific shocks in an input-output framework," BOFIT Discussion Papers 17/2019, Bank of Finland, Institute for Economies in Transition.
    10. Linda Glawe & Helmut Wagner, 2023. "The “Double Trap” in China—Multiple Equilibria in Institutions and Income and their Causal Relationship," Open Economies Review, Springer, vol. 34(3), pages 703-757, July.
    11. Wagner, Helmut, 2018. "Structural change, rebalancing, and the danger of a middle-income trap in China," CEAMeS Discussion Paper Series 13/2018, University of Hagen, Center for East Asia Macro-economic Studies (CEAMeS).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Rebalancing; China; Development strategy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F41 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - Open Economy Macroeconomics
    • O10 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - General
    • O40 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - General
    • O53 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Asia including Middle East

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